Archive for July 1, 2011

Predictably it’s gold coloured and it looks pretty flash. Britain’s first vending machine selling gold made a surprise debut in the Westfield shopping centre in west London today, apparently to cater for growing retail demand.

The Gold To Go machine is manufactured by German operator Ex Oriente Lux, which is keen to tap into the traditional status of gold as a “safe haven” during economic turmoil. The company also thinks there is a market for buying last-minute presents such as wedding anniversary and landmark gifts, all in neat packaging.

Pictures from similar model in Dubai

A computer inside the machine updates the price of gold every 10 minutes to reflect fluctuations in the world market. It sells bars and coins in various sizes, including – currently – a special souvenir 2.5g bar with the London skyline engraved on its reverse. Shoppers can also pick up a 1g coin for about £40 or a 250g bar for £10,250.

Chromebooksare built and optimized for the web, where you already spend most of your computing time. So you get a faster, simpler and more secure experience without all the headaches of ordinary computers.

Features

Chromebooks boot in 8 seconds and resume instantly. Your favorite websites load quickly and run smoothly, with full support for the latest web standards and Adobe® Flash®. In fact, Chromebooks are designed to get faster over time as updates are released.

Your apps, documents, and settings are stored safely in the cloud. So even if you lose your computer, you can just log in to another Chromebook and get right back to work.

Your Chromebook gets better and better over time, unlike a traditional PC. When you turn it on, it updates itself. Automatically. All of your apps stay up-to-date, and you get the latest and greatest version of the operating system without having to think about it. Annoying update prompts not included.

Every Chromebook runs millions of web apps, from games to spreadsheets to photo editors. Thanks to the power of HTML5, many apps keep working even in those rare moments when you’re not connected. Visit the Chrome Web Store to try the latest apps, or just type in a URL. No CDs required